Wall System
Types of Wall Systems.
- Load Bearing Wall Systems : Able to carry the load from above (own weight & load from roof) and transfer it to the foundation.
- Non Load Bearing Wall System : Only carry their own weight.
Load Bearing Wall System
Also known as exterior wall. It braces from the roof to the floor. Types of load bearing walls are
- Pre Cast Concrete,
- Retaining Wall,
- Masonry Wall,
- Pre Panelized Load Bearing Metal Stud Walls,
- Engineering Brick Wall (115mm, 225mm),
- Stone Wall
Non Load Bearing Wall Systems.
Also known as interior wall (doesn’t carry other load than its own load)
Types of non load bearing walls are :
- Hollow Concrete Block
- Facade Bricks
- Hollow Bricks
- Brick Wall (115mm, 225mm)
Bricks Bonding
There are three types of brick bondings viz;
Flemish Bond Alternate bricks are placed as header and stretcher in every course. Each header is placed centrally between the stretcher immediately above and below. This is not as strong as the English bond at 1 brick thick.
English Bond Alternative courses of headers and stretchers; one header placed centrally above each stretcher. This is a very strong bond when the wall is 1 brick thick (or thicker). One of the strongest brickwork bond patterns.
Stretcher Bond Easiest bond to lay & minimizes the amount of cutting required Originally used for single brick walls, now called 1/2 brick walls it became the obvious choice for cavity walls as less cutting was required.
Wall Failure
Vertical bowing and horizontal bending or collapse of wall is usually caused by the wall not resisting vertical pressures from foundation or upper floors & roofs or horizontal pressures from strong winds and retained earth.
Usual cause for failure of wall are as follows:
- Overloading the wall, deflection of beam above the wall will effect the wall below.
- Foundation failure
- Earthquake
- Timber pest damage weakened the timber wall
- Poor workmanship (improper brickwork)